Pen and fountain attachment therefor



jan. i6, 1945. R, E, SCOTT 2,367,540

PEN AND FOUNTAIN ATTACIJf/lji` T THEREFOR Filed Sept. 25, 1943 PatentedJan. 16, 1945 PEN AND FOUNTAIN ATTACHMENT THEREFOR Russell E. Scott,Laurel Springs, N. J., assignor to The Esterbrook Steel PenManufacturing Co., Camden, N. J., a corporation of New JerseyApplication September 25, 1943, Serial No. 503,809

4 Claims.

My invention relates to pens for lettering,

drawing, and the like, and. to fountain attachthem are, it is somewhatdifficult to clean the pens "and the attachments; particularly `thosefountains which are in the nature of a blade overlying the nib portionof the pen. Additionally,

there is some danger of displacing the forward part of the fountain withrespect to the writing end of the pen during a cleaning operation.

The particular feature of my invention is to provide a form ofdetachable or displaceable fountain that may be snapped into positionwith respect to the pen, and which may be readily displaced or removedfrom the pen for a cleaning operation. In carrying out this feature ofmy invention I may provide a fountain attachment wholly removable fromthe pen for a cleaning operation, or I may pivot or hinge the fountainattachment at one side of the pen body so that it may be swung out ofposition with respect to the nib portion of the pen when it is desiredto clean the pen and the fountain.

The fountain attachment forming the subject of my invention includes ablade overlying the pen nibs and a clamping band which may be integralwith the blade partially encircling the body of the pen intermediate itsends. In one arrangement of my invention, this clamping band has areversely bent portion adapted to engage one edge of the pen body; thelatter being preferably notched so that when the clamping band is inplace, the fountain will be properly positioned with respect to the nibportion of the pen, while-in the other arrangement of my invention theclamping band of the fountain may be pivotally connected or hinged tothe body of the pen longitudinally of the sameat one side thereof and inthe same relation as the rst mentioned form; the pen being notched atthe side adjacent such pivotal connection in the same manner as in therst arrangement referred to.

At the opposite side of the semi-encircling clamping band, the free endis bent to form a (Cl. 1Z0-*114) spring catch that will snap intoengagement with the edge of the pen body and hold the attachment firmlyin place, with the forward end of the same disposed in proper relationwith respect to the writing table or other paper-engaging portion at theforward end of the nibs. The catch is of the same character in bothforms of my improved fountain attachment.

A further feature of my invention is the stiffening or reinforcing ofthe fountain structure-f particularly the connection between the bladeand the clamping band-with a View of avoiding possible distortion of theparts of the same when placing it upon or removing it from the pen.

These and other features of my invention are more fully set forthhereinafter; reference being had to the accompanying drawing, more orless diagrammatic in character, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view, on Aan enlarged scale, of one.form of pen ofthe type to which my invention relates, with a fountain attachmentwithin the scope of my invention applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a side .elevation of the pen and fountain attachment shown inFig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view, further en'- larged, taken on the lineIII-III, Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional View, similar to Fig. 3, illustrating thepivotal type of structure.

Figs. 5 and 6 are fragmentary views illustrating details of myinvention.

Fig. 7 is a plan view, on the same scale as Fig'.v 1, of a fountainattachment embodying a further feature of my invention, and

Fig. 8 is a cross-secional view on the line VIII-VIII, Fig. '7.

My improved construction is of a simple and inexpensive character and,by reason of complete separation or displacement of the fountain withrespect to the nib portion of the pen, it is most easy to clean therespective parts.

In the drawing, I0 represents one form of lettering pen with which myimproved fountain attachment may be employed; such pen having a nibportion Il which, in the present instance, has a turned-up writing tablel2, and a shank portion, indicated at I3. This pen may be any form ofthose pens familiarly known as lettering pens and it will be understoodthat other types of pens with or without turned-up writing tables-those,for instance, with broad nib endsare susceptible of receiving theimproved fountain attachment which forms the subject of my invention.

As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, my improved fountain attachment maycomprise a blade I5 overlying the nib portion of the pen with a forwardportion of the same taper or contour as the pen and having a rounded endI6 adjacent to the writing end thereofin the present instance, thediagonally disposed writing table I2.

The blade I5` extends rearwardly of the nib portion of the pen and isspaced from the same in the manner indicated; the forward end I6 beingsubstantially in engagement with the nibs behind the writing table,while the rear portion of the blade is spaced some distance from theupper surface of the pen. Continuous with the blade is a neck portionI1, and this is bent downwardly with respect to the pen and joins asubstantially semi-circular clamping band I8 which partially embracesthe body of the pen.

The clamping band I8, shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, is detachably connectedwith the pen and for this purpose one end of the same is bent back uponitself for the desired extent, as indicated at I9, and this portion isarranged to engage a notched portion 20 at one side of the pen body (seeFig. 5) so that the blade may be properly positioned lengthwise of thepen with respect to the nib portion thereof. The opposite end of theclamping band I8 is bent to form a spring catch 2I, which engages theedge of the pen body directly opposite the notched portion of the same.To provide the desired spring eiect the clamping band may be arrangedinitially so as to be slightly smaller than the pen body or rather to bebent inwardly slightly at its free end so that when snapped over theedge of the pen body it will have the eiect of a spring and be firmlyheld to the same. The catch may extend a slight distance below the edgeof the pen body, as indicated in the drawing.

In the form of structure illustrated in Fig. 4, the clamping band I8a ispivotally connected or hinged to the pen body, longitudinally of thesani'e, and this may be effected by longitudinally notching the penbody, as indicated at 2i)EL and, in addition to such notching.longitudinally slotting the side of the pen body, as indicated at 22(see Fig. 6). In lieu of bending one end of the clamping band to .engagethe notched side edge of the vpen in the manner illustrated in Fig. 3,such end portion is shaped as indicated at I9, Fig. 4, to pass throughthe slot 22 and form a hinge or pivotal connection with the pen. In Fig.4 I have illustrated by dotted lines the position of the fountainattachment when it is displaced for a cleaning operation; the brokenline :D indicating the contour when it is in engagement with the pen, Inthe arrangement shown in Figs. l, 2 and 3, the fountain attachment iswholly removed from the pen for a cleaning operation.

Fountain attachments of the type of my invention are quite small; themetal of tlie same is quite thin and, by reason of the reduced neckportion between the blade and the clamping band, require more or lesscareful handling to avoid displacement or derangement of the parts whenapshown this rib as semi-circular in cross-section. it will beunderstood that it may have a different contour--in the form of aninverted V, for instance, or other shape.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have provided avery simple and eiicient form of fountain attachment for pens of thecharacter described; that it may be readily removed or displaced for thepurpose of cleaning the parts, and that when replaced it will occupy theproper position with respect to the nib portion of the pen; serving as areservoir for the storage of a. supply of ink and feeding the same in aproper manner to the pen.

My improved device may be readily snapped into position and as readilydisplaced or removed by operating the catch 2 I. l

While I have described and have shown in the drawing certain specificembodiments of my invention, I do not wish to be limited to suchconstructions since modifications may be made in the same withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention; all of which' is deemed to bewithin the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The combination with a pen of the class described, of a snap-onfountain attachment therefor comprising a flat blade overlying the nibportion of the pen, in an inclined position, a clamping band fitting thebody of the pen intermediate its ends, and a narrow neck angularlydisposed connecting the blade and band; said band having a relativelyWide bent-up portion in engagement with one edge of the pen and a catchin engagement with the opposite edge of the pen.

2. The combination with a pen of the class described, of a snap-onfountain attachment therefor comprising a ilat blade overlying the nibportion of the pen in an inclined position, a clamping band fitting thebody of the penhintermediate its ends, a narrow neck -angularly disposedconnecting the blade and clamping band; said band having a bent-upportion in engagement with one edge of the pen and a catch in engagementwith the opposite edge of the pen, and a raised rib with tapering endssubstantially centrally disposed and extending from the blade to theband and including the angularly disposed neck portion of theattachment.

3. A fountain attachment for pens comprising a ilat blade disposed in aninclined position, a clamping member for embracing the body of the pen,a narrow neck angularly disposed connecting said parts; and a raised ribsubstantially centrally disposed extending from the blade to theclamping band and including the angularly disposed neck .portion of theattachment.

4. A fountain attachment for pens comprising a at blade arranged tooverlie the nib portion of the pen in an inclined position, a clampingband, a narrowl neck portion angularly disposed connecting the blade andclamping band, and a raised rib arcuate in cross-sectional contour subestantially centrally disposed extending from the blade to the clampingband and including the angularly disposed neck portion of theattachment.

RUSSELL E. SCO'I'I.

